CALEDON, ON – CUPE 966 and concerned residents are postponing the “Peoples’s Deputation”, planned outside of today’s council meeting, and will instead raise their concerns directly with Caledon Mayor Annette Groves in a meeting.
The event was organized in response to council’s refusal to allow frontline workers to present a deputation regarding the proposal to privatize winter road maintenance.
“When council shut the door on workers and residents, we opened another one to ensure our voices are heard,” said Salil Arya, president of CUPE 966 representing around 3,5000 workers across Peel Region. “The mayor’s request to meet shows that when people organize and speak out collectively, they can force decision-maker to listen. We’re taking this meeting in good faith but if Caledon moves forward with plans to privatize, we’ll begin mobilizing once more.”
Beyond outreach from the mayor’s office, CUPE 966 also heard from councillors who ensured there would be no job losses.
At the core of the dispute, though, is not only the threat of privatization but the town’s handling of democratic participation. CUPE 966 tried to go through the established channels to voice concerns about the impact of privatization on service levels and road safety, concerns supported by data and a well-regarded 2015 report from the provincial Auditor General. The clerk’s office cited sections 48.1 and 48.2 of the town’s procedure bylaws to block workers from exercising their right to speak before council.
“This goes beyond any single issue. Our members are fighting to not only protect jobs, bring work in house, and maintain the highest possible service levels, but also to restore fair and transparent democratic involvement,” said Arya. “Workers should not be silenced by procedural tactics or bylaws weaponized as gatekeeping tools.”
CUPE 966 will provide further updates following the meeting with the mayor.
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For more information, please contact:
Jesse Mintz | Communications Representative, CUPE
416-704-9642 [email protected]
:aa/COPE491
